Extrusion die having thermally responsive lip adjustment assembly

Abstract

A method for replacing one or more components of a lip adjustment assembly mounted to a die body of an extrusion die is disclosed. Initially, a translating unit of the lip adjustment assembly is accessed through an exposed end of the lip adjustment assembly. Then, an adjustment actuator is removed from a translator of the translating unit. The translator is decoupled from a rod of the translating unit so that the translator is removable from the lip adjustment assembly and with respect to the rod. Next, the translator is removed from the lip adjustment assembly and a first component of the translating unit is replaced with a second component of the translating unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using a lip adjustment assembly mounted to a die body of an extrusion die to replace one or more components of the lip adjustment assembly, the method comprising:
 accessing a translating unit of said lip adjustment assembly through an exposed end of said lip adjustment assembly; 
 removing an adjustment actuator from a translator of said translating unit; 
 decoupling said translator from a rod of said translating unit so that said translator is removable from said lip adjustment assembly and with respect to said rod; 
 after decoupling said translator from said rod, removing said translator from said lip adjustment assembly; and 
 replacing a first component of said translating unit with a second component of said translating unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before decoupling said translator from said rod, removing a retainer assembly that secures said translating unit within said lip adjustment assembly; 
 after replacing said first component with said second component;
 inserting said translator into said lip adjustment assembly in alignment with said rod; 
 coupling said translator to said rod via a mounting member; 
 after coupling said translator to said rod, positioning said retaining assembly on said translator so as to couple said translating unit to lip adjustment assembly; and 
 inserting said adjustment actuator through said retainer assembly and into engagement with said translator of said translating unit. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein removing the retainer assembly comprises removing mounting bolts and then a retainer plate that secures said translating unit within said lip adjustment assembly. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein decoupling said translator from said rod comprises actuating a tool to decouple the mounting member from said rod. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein coupling said translator to said rod via said mounting member comprises using said tool to couple said translator to said rod via said mounting member. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising after inserting said adjustment actuator, securing the retainer assembly to said translating unit. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein removing said adjustment actuator from said translator of said translating unit comprises removing a spacer. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising after coupling said translator to said rod, positioning said spacer. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing said translator from said lip adjustment assembly comprises maintaining said rod in said translating unit. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inhibiting rotation of said rod.